Coffee-Shop-O-Typing

1. The Student: Going to the coffee shop because refillable caffeine battles a night of study. The Student usually totes Apple technology and swathes the table with a tablecloth of school papers.
2. The Businessman: Phone to the ear, face to the computer screen, heatedly criticizing the marketing department.
3. The Retired Couple: Drinking their coffee – black. The Retired Couple does not converse with each other but watches (each other and the world). They’ve had fifty years together to say what they need to say, and there’s no rush.
4. The European: Mysterious accent: Russia? Spain? Britain? Germany? In the States, a European is a European no matter the country of origin. Everyone in close proximity to The European’s table pretends to be deeply involved in their work, but everyone knows that everyone is listening to these romanticized, international folk.
5. The Ladies Group: Loud. Discussing children, how they shouldn’t be eating what they’re eating, and sometimes nothing at all in the most raucous way. Laughter and stealing chairs from other people’s tables to make room for one more. Squeal.
6. The Runner: Athletic clothes – tights, marathon shoes, neon, neon, neon – and ordering the healthiest thing on the menu. One egg white, please, with no salt, of course, and an acai berry/chia seed smoothie – definitely no turbinado. Sits, smart phones, reflects on their high measure of self discipline and what a great example they are to this lard bunch of Americans, if only more people could be more like them. (At least that’s what I imagine they think. I wouldn’t know.)
7. The Writer: Laptop or writing tablet. Often can be found staring into nothing above their computer screen and tapping rhythms in “ jkl; ;lkj j jk” to get the brain juices flowing properly. Shift F7, backspace, time for more tea.
8. The Tired Mom: Two toddling tikes, still losing baby weight, and deep shadows under the eyes. Some people are bothered, but most have understanding.
9. The Guy With The Facial Hair: Usually he is also wearing a beanie. Sometimes he has big-rimmed, black glasses.
10. The Distracted Nincompoop: Should be studying “The Growth of the Partisan Press,” but would rather blog instead. Guilty as charged.